Mar. 25, 2009 Dear Helen, Thanks for your last letter. Yes, I'm enjoying myself on my exchange program in France. It's even better than I thought it would be. I was a bit nervous before I arrived here, but there was no reason to be. My host family is really nice. They go out of their way to make me feel at home. And you wouldn't believe how quickly my French has improved! I'm very comfortable speaking French now. Although I still make lots of mistakes, it doesn't bother me as it used to. My biggest challenge is learning how to behave at the dinner table. As you can imagine, things are really not the same as the way they are at home. For example, you're not supposed to put your bread on your plate. You're supposed to put it on the table! I thought that was pretty strange at first, but now I'm used to it. You're not supposed to eat anything with your hands except bread, not even fruit! (You have to cut it up and eat it with a fork.) Another thing is that it is very rude to say you're full. If you don't want any more food, you should just say, "It was delicious." Also, it's rude to put your hands in your lap. You should always keep your hands, but not your elbows, on the table. I have to say, I find it difficult to remember everything, but I'm gradually getting used to things and don't find them so strange any more. I'll write soon and tell you more about life in France. Hope you're having a good school year. Yours, Mei Fei 1. Where is Mei Fei now? 2. Was there any reason for Mei Fei to be nervous before she arrived there? 3. What does Mei Fei think of her host family? 4. How does Mei Fei feel while she is speaking French now? 5. What is the biggest challenge she is facing? 6. When can Mei Fei eat things with her hands? 7. Why do you want to go there if you have the chance to take part in an exchange program?